In the media
Crisis teams in Tallinn – also in Amsterdam?
Tallinn has had the Crisis Breakers Team since last year: civil servants who volunteer to be trained to help the city during disasters, from fires to large-scale power outages. The initiative fits within a broader European trend, says Professor of Organisational and Technological Innovation and Societal Resilience Kees Boersma in Het Parool. “Amsterdam is also experimenting with projects that strengthen neighbourhood resilience during crises. The diversity of Amsterdam, both in the composition of its districts and in the social and economic positions of residents, is one of our greatest vulnerabilities.”
How do I spark reading pleasure in children?
The magazine AndC published an article on how parents can encourage their children to read. Dutch children are reading less and less, their reading skills are plummeting and they say they do not enjoy reading. Professor of Reading Behaviour Roel van Steensel stresses the importance of parents continuing to read aloud to their children: “It helps with language, and it’s simply cosy. I kept reading aloud to my children until Year 6, until they took over themselves. Keep doing it, as long as they enjoy it!” His tips: visit the library and let children choose what they want to read.
Facts about migration in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is unavoidably becoming an increasingly diverse society, which causes resistance among some people. Professor of Diversity and Integration Halleh Ghorashi emphasises in Het Parool that such resistance is human but warns against scapegoating migrants: “Almost everything you read and hear about asylum and migration is negative. They are the scapegoat; that seems to be getting increasingly extreme.” According to her, cooperation and understanding offer opportunities for renewal and enrichment rather than division.
Max Havelaar a literary masterpiece!
On German Radio 3, attention was paid to Multatuli’s classic Max Havelaar. Professor of Modern Dutch Literature Jacqueline Bel: “Max Havelaar is truly a literary masterpiece, very original in its writing and also critical of colonial structures.” Bel discusses the book’s influence and the relevance it still carries today.
When are you officially ‘old’?
The question of when someone is truly old remains difficult to answer. Professor of Epidemiology of Ageing Martijn Huisman states in Margriet that it mainly depends on a person’s role and functioning. “It can be useful to have an objective measure, for example for policy. In our research we distinguish between the ‘third’ and the ‘fourth’ age,” he says. The third age begins roughly at retirement; the fourth age begins when daily tasks (getting dressed, travelling independently) can no longer be carried out without help.
Amsterdam as a ‘religious city’
Amsterdam is home to countless religious buildings and objects. De andere kaart van Amsterdam highlights the history of churches, monasteries, synagogues and mosques in the capital. Professor of Religious Heritage of the Netherlands August den Hollander points out in the Reformatorisch Dagblad the many migrant churches in the city, including a Mandarin-speaking Chinese community, a Korean church and an Indonesian church. A characteristic feature of these churches is the emphasis on language and culture.
magazine for social sciences and humanities alumni december 2025